IL-22 mediates goblet cell hyperplasia and worm expulsion in intestinal helminth infection.

Abstract

Type 2 immune responses are essential in protection against intestinal helminth infections. In this study we show that IL-22, a cytokine important in defence against bacterial infections in the intestinal tract, is also a critical mediator of anti-helminth immunity. After infection with Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, a rodent hookworm, IL-22-deficient mice showed impaired worm expulsion despite normal levels of type 2 cytokine production. The impaired worm expulsion correlated with reduced goblet cell hyperplasia and reduced expression of goblet cell markers. We further confirmed our findings in a second nematode model, the murine whipworm Trichuris muris. T.muris infected IL-22-deficient mice had a similar phenotype to that seen in N.brasiliensis infection, with impaired worm expulsion and reduced goblet cell hyperplasia. Ex vivo and in vitro analysis demonstrated that IL-22 is able to directly induce the expression of several goblet cell markers, including mucins. Taken together, our findings reveal that IL-22 plays an important role in goblet cell activation, and thus, a key role in anti-helminth immunity.

• Authors: Jan-Eric Turner, Brigitta Stockinger, Helena Helmby
• Journal: PLoS pathogens (PLoS Pathog) Vol. 9 Issue 10 Pg. e1003698 ( 2013) ISSN: 1553-7374 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 24130494 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Interleukins
• interleukin-22

Topics

• Animals
• Gene Expression Regulation (genetics, immunology)
• Goblet Cells (immunology, pathology)
• Hyperplasia (immunology, parasitology)
• Immunity, Mucosal (genetics)
• Interleukins (genetics, immunology)
• Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic (genetics, immunology, parasitology, pathology)
• Mice
• Mice, Knockout
• Nippostrongylus (immunology)
• Strongylida Infections (genetics, immunology, pathology)
• Trichuriasis (genetics, immunology)
• Trichuris (immunology)